The Nifty Fifty: Arkansas

Arkansas is a state in the southern region of the US with the abbreviation of AR. It became the 25th state on June 15, 1836, making Arkansas 187 years old, as of June 2023. The origin of the name Arkansas is uncertain; some believe that the name is of Algonquin origin, but the meaning is unknown, while others believe that Arkansas is the French version of Kansas, which itself is a Sioux name meaning south wind people.

When the territory that would become this state was organized, it was originally spelled Arkansaw, however, the spelling Arkansas became more popular and the territory eventually became Arkansas Territory, which is why the state is spelled Arkansas. Apparently the name was historically pronounced ar-kan-saw and ar-kan-sas, but the Arkansas General Assembly passed a resolution (Arkansas Statutes, Title 1, Chapter 4, Section 105) that legally defines the former pronunciation as the official pronunciation of the state of Arkansas.

Arkansas is the 29th largest state and the 33rd most populous; the capital of Arkansas is Little Rock. The demonym of Arkansas is Arkansan and the state is bordered by Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.

The motto for the state of Arkansas is Regnat Populus (Latin for The People Rule).

The official nickname for the state of Arkansas is The Natural State, which refers to the state’s natural beauty, clear lakes and streams, and abundance of natural wildlife.

The landscape of Arkansas is covered in mountains, river valleys, forests, lakes, and bayous. The northern region of the state even has the Boston Mountains, which is one of the Ozark Mountain ranges.

The state of Arkansas is known for its lakes, rivers, hot springs, frequent storms, and folk music tradition. The state is also one of the greatest poultry producers and the greatest rice producer in the United States. Arkansas is home to the only active diamond mine in the US, and it produces nearly all of the United States’ bauxite, which is used to produce aluminum; the state also contains some common minerals such as limestone, gravel, sand, and clay, but it also possess more rare materials like bromine brine, gypsum, syenite, and tripoli.

One of the most notable people from Arkansas is Johnny Cash, who was born in Kingsland, Arkansas. He was a one of the most famous country singers in the United States.

The world’s largest retailer is Walmart; the company’s annual revenue is more than half of a trillion US dollars, which is more than twice the revenue of the company in second place. The first Walmart store was opened in Rogers, Arkansas, in 1962.

The Battle of Arkansas Post was fought on April 17, 1783, in Arkansas County, Arkansas. It was a minor battle of the American Revolutionary War that was fought between Spanish forces, who sided with the United States, and British forces. The British forces attacked the Spanish controlled fort, however, only several hours into the attack, a Spanish counterattack caused the British to hastily retreat, leaving the Spanish victorious. This is considered the only Revolutionary War battle fought in Arkansas.

An interesting fact about Arkansas is that Little Rock’s name actually came from a rock, which was called La Petite Roche (French for The Little Rock). The rock was named by a French explorer who used the rock for navigation in 1722. This rock outcropping used to lie along the south bank of the Arkansas River, but it was mostly destroyed to build a bridge that was never completed. A piece of The Little Rock now sits near the Arkansas River in the River Market district.

A strange fact about Arkansas is that it is illegal for your dog to bark after 6 PM in the city of Little Rock. Something tells me that Little Rock is filled with canine lawbreakers every evening.

What fact about Arkansas most interests you?